Page:Sketches of the life and character of Patrick Henry.djvu/93

 treasury of the colony * A motion was therefore made to separate the office of treasurer from the speaker^s chair, which was supported by Mr. Henry with his usual ability. An arduous struggle ensued. Innova- tions, however correct in themselves, never fail to startle those who have grown gi^ey in a veneration for the ex- isting order of things. They fancy that they see in every important change, an indirect blow at the esta- blished government, and at the foundations of their own property. This union of the speaker's chair with the office of treasurer, was one of those errors in pohcy which time had consecrated, and it required a hand both steady and skilful, to remove the veil and expose its deformity. That hand was furnished by Mr. Henry. The union of boldness and decency which composed his character, of decisive energy in the support of his own opinions, and respectful tenderness towards those of others, fitted him peculiarly for the discharge of this duty. The house admired on this occasion, the facility with which he could adapt himself to any subject. He had that foundation of strong natural sense, without which genius is a misfortune; an instinctive accuracy of judgment, which always proportioned his efforts to the occasion. He was never guilty of the ridiculous and common error amongst young members, of at- tempting to force the subject beyond its nature — of

��* A correspondent furnishes the following note on this passage:—** There was but one clear and sound bottom on which the separation of the chair and the treasury was decided. The legislature made all the levies of money pay- able into the hands of their speaker, over whom they had controul. The only hold the governor had on him, was a negative on his appointment as speaker at every new election, which amounted, consequently, to a nega- tive on him as treasurer, and disposed him, so far, to be obsequious to the e'overnor."'*

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